DavOr to spend P233-M for sports complex

THE PROVINCE of Davao Oriental will soon be ready to host big sporting events as the Provincial Government recently broke the ground for its new Provincial Sports Complex touted to be at par with other “worldclass” sports facilities in the country.

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang led on Monday, January 13, the groundbreaking ceremony of the highly anticipated sports facility situated at the province’s newly acquired sprawling 12-hectare property in Barangay Don Martin Marundan in the City of Mati.

Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony signaled the start for the construction of the first phase of the project which covers the land development, construction of perimeter fence, embankment, drainage system, and concrete road networks with

a grand entrance with four lanes and a divider island.

Provincial Engineer’s Office OIC Head, Engr. Ruel Dumadag, who explained the technical specifications of the project, said that the embankment will be elevated by four meters. “It will make the sports complex something like a plateau,” he said.

To be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office, the phase one of the project amounting to P233 million is anticipated to be completed within eight months, added Dumadag. Future Development However, for the project to be fully completed, an additional budget of about P1 billion is still needed in order to construct all the proposed facilities and structures, of which the province hopes to source out from various sources in the national government in the next few years.

Facilities and structures that will comprise the envisioned world-class facility include a grandstand, bleachers, an oval, athletics field, baseball field, archery field, ball games area, aquatic center, administrative and receptions buildings, parking and commercial spaces, among others. There will also be an athlete’s dormitory to house athletes from other municipalities or provinces participating in events. “Classes need not be suspended during sports events because athletes will be housed on a separate facility,” said Engr. Duamdag, adding that “soon there will be no need to have many sports venues since all sports events will be held only within the walls of the sports center.”

Moreover, the sports center will be highlighted with a 10,000-capacity gymnasium, touted to become the major attraction of the highly ambitious sports center project.